Howard
A. Hovland has contributed nearly half a century
of leadership to adult education as a teacher,
administrator, innovative professional practitioner,
philanthropist and volunteer. He established
the first Adult Literacy Basic Education Program
in South Dakota in 1964, which became a state
model.
By 1972, the adult basic education programs
in South Dakota had grown to thirty-two.
Hovland also established the South Dakota State
Adult Education Association (now called the South
Dakota Association of Lifelong Learning) in 1966,
and became its first president.
Hovland began his career teaching adult evening
classes in Sioux, Falls, South Dakota in1959,
and became the supervisor of the Adult Evening
and Community Education program which grew to
120 courses. In 1968, he brought together the
state director of Adult Basic Education, the
Department of Public Instruction, and South Dakota
State University in a cooperative effort in Region
VI to teach and train more people in the Adult
Basic Education Program throughout the state.
In 1985, Hovland made a personal financial contribution
to the Missouri Valley Adult Education Association
(MVAEA). The contribution was for the establishment
of a permanently endowed development fund for
creative and relevant program services to provide
annual awards to local memberships of a seven
Midwestern state area. His financial contributions
to the fund were increased with the establishment
of an annual silent auction held at each annual
conference. Since 1988 the fund has provided
MVAEA annual awards.
In 1993, Hovland again contributed
the initial funds challenging each of the seven
state associations in the MVAEA region to develop
their own permanently endowed development fund
for annual awards. Each of the states developed
permanent funding programs that give yearly
awards to various adult education programs. The
awards have resulted in significant contributions
to the citizens in the MVAEA region through outstanding
continuing education projects.
Hovland’s legacy has greatly influenced
the lives of many adult students through his
leadership, service and devotion to the growth
of continuing education.